After two successful launches in 2015 and 2016, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has con� rmed Wanaka, New Zealand, as one of its global sites to launch unmanned scienti� c research balloons into near space.

NASA is set to return to Wanaka in March 2017 to perform another � ight test of its super pressure balloon. In addition, the balloon will � y the University of Chicago’s Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO-SPB) payload on this mission.

EUSO-SPB is a high-energy cosmic ray particle astrophysics payload that will test a � uorescence detector and its supporting technologies under the severe operating conditions of the stratosphere. This suborbital � ight is a precursor for a mission being planned to launch the EUSO telescope and install it on the International Space Station (ISS).

• Twenty-� ve NASA staff are expected to be in Wanaka for two months to provide launch services support for the launch

• The 2017 scienti� c payload will be � own on behalf of the University of Chicago’s Extreme Universe Space Observatory team. A team of 10 scientists will be on-site working with NASA to launch and monitor the payload

• Various New Zealand aviation bodies, including Wanaka and Queenstown airports, Airways New Zealand and the Civil Aviation Authority, have been involved in helping NASA work through the logistics of launching the 2,377kg (5,241 pounds) balloon from Wanaka Airport

• A range of local agencies, from Queenstown Lakes District Council to � re brigades, have also provided planning, logistics and communications support for the project

• NASA is building a dedicated launch pad at the airport, once again showing their con� dence in Wanaka as a launch location.

WHAT IS THE BALLOON MADE OUT OF?

CAN THE PUBLIC WATCH THE LAUNCH?

HOW DOES THE LAUNCH BENEFIT THE REGION?

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

WHY IS THERE A SAFETY ZONE ACROSS PARTS OF THE AIRPORT?

NASA’s balloons are constructed of polyethylene � lm, similar to the type of � lm used in sandwich wrap, but stronger and more durable. The � lm for this balloon is only 0.0038 centimetres thick and is divided into 280 banana-peel-shaped sections, called gores, and sealed together under heat.

Immediately after lift-off the balloon will be visible for miles around so people will not need to be at the airport to see it. The best viewing points will be on the Hawea Flat side of the Clutha River, on Mt Iron or on the hill on the Hawea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Rd.

The project has generated multiple positives including signi� cant economic and tourism bene� ts.

Wanaka Airport has secured an ongoing role in the NASA balloon launch programme for up to ten years and is now part of a select global group of NASA test sites located in the United States, Sweden, Australia and Antarctica.

The project has brought signi� cant economic bene� ts to both Wanaka and New Zealand with at least US$1.25 million being injected directly into the regional and national economy in 2016. For the 2017 launch, NASA is building a dedicated launch pad at the airport, once again showing their con� dence in Wanaka as a launch location. In addition, the international publicity and goodwill generated by Wanaka’s brand association with NASA - one of the world’s most internationally recognised organisations - is invaluable in increasing Wanaka’s pro� le and putting it on the global map.

• If you live within the 2.1km safety zone, NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with you.

• If you live in the safety zone or are involved with the airport as a user or operator, NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with you.

• To track the � ight visit www.csbf.nasa.gov/newzealand/wanaka.htm.

• For more information on NASA’s Scienti� c Balloon Programme, visit www.nasa.gov/scienti� cballoons.

NASA is a world-leading operator with a stringent health and safety plan, and the Columbia Scienti� c Balloon Facility has a proven track record of safe launches, having successfully overseen more than 1,700 launches. Having a safety zone is standard procedure for a NASA balloon launch and is a precautionary measure that will affect, at most, one household.

NASA balloon launch at Wanaka Airport

HeHelium

0 0 00 0 0HOURS MINS SECS

6

114.5m

2,377kg

12 HOUSEHOLDS

30 MINWINDOW

BETWEEN 7AM AND 11AM

2.1km

WANAKAAIRPORT

PAYLOAD

HELIUM

Questions such as “HOW DID THE UNIVERSE, GALAXIES, STARS, AND PLANETS FORM AND EVOLVE?”and “ARE THERE EARTH-LIKE PLANETS BEYOND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM?”are being answered by NASA with the help of experiments � own on scienti� c balloons. Scienti� c research balloons gather data that is used to investigate the origins of the universe, assess the effects of cosmic rays on the atmosphere and continue the hunt for planets.

The balloon is UNMANNED and will be monitored by the Columbia Scienti� c Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.

STATE HIGHWAY 6 WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED AT LUGGATE with a detour via Hawea Flat for traf� c between Cromwell and Wanaka.

The of� cial countdown will begin around midnight on the day before the launch, and the balloon will be launched on the following morning between 7 AND 11AM, subject to calm wind conditions. If the wind is not agreeable for launch, it will be delayed at least 24 hours.

The balloon is LAUNCHED by � lling it with helium with the payload section suspended beneath it. As the balloon rises up through the atmosphere, the helium expands, � lling out the balloon until it reaches � oat altitude in TWO TO THREE HOURS.

In accordance with NASA’s stringent health and safety protocols, residents living along the � ight path within a 2.1KM RADIUS of Wanaka Airport will be asked to remain indoors until the balloon is out of range. This will affect, at most, 12 households for a 30-minute window between approximately 7am and 11am on launch day as the balloon lifts off and begins its ascent.

Helium, the same gas used to � ll party balloons, is used in NASA’s scienti� c balloons. The largest of NASA’s operational scienti� c balloons can carry suspended payloads weighing up to 3,600KG (8,000 pounds), about the weight of three small cars. They can � y up to 42KM (26 miles) high and stay there for up to two weeks or longer. The super pressure balloon � ying from Wanaka is 532,357 CUBIC METERS (18.8 million cubic feet) in volume when fully in� ated.

NASA is planning to use the NEW LAUNCH PAD currently being built at the northeast of the Wanaka Airport runway. NASA conducted a safety analysis associated with the new launch pad and only one home is impacted. NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with the resident and airport users to provide updated information.

The balloon is 114.5M (375.6 feet)in diameter and 69M (226 feet) high when fully in� ated at its � oat altitude of 33.5KM (110,000 feet). The 2,377KG balloon, when fully in� ated, is a similar size to Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.

WHY WANAKA AIRPORT?

HOW WILL THE BALLOON BE KEPT SAFE IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE?

HOW DOES THE LAUNCH PROCESS WORK?

According to NASA experts, Wanaka is the perfect location for several reasons: its latitude, calm conditions and dispersed population around the airport, particularly in the east where the balloon is likely to drift.

NASA is working closely with Airways to plan airspace logistics for the launch. Airways will coordinate with NASA to determine an optimal launch time to ensure minimal impact on normal scheduled aircraft operations, and facilitate safe passage of the balloon through controlled airspace. In the days leading up to and during the launch, NASA will provide Airways with the balloon’s predicted trajectory based on wind and weather conditions, ensuring Airways has the most up-to-date information to safely manage the airspace.

The balloon will be connected to a crane and in� ated with helium at Wanaka Airport. As it rises, the lower atmospheric pressures will cause the balloon to fully in� ate.

It will rise at approximately 1,000ft (or 300m) per minute and travel to 110,000 feet (around 33.5km). It typically takes two to three hours to reach this � oat altitude. From there, the goal is for the balloon to remain airborne for 100 days. After the mission is complete, � ight operators will assess a safe location for bringing the balloon down and then recovery operations will begin. The previous two Wanaka balloon launch attempts remained airborne for 32 days and 46 days respectively.

WANAKA AIRPORT WANAKA AIRPORT

5KM

15KM

25KM

10KM

20KM

30KM

35KM

33.5KM

300M PER MINUTE

100 DAYS

A SAFE LOCATION

Basic facts Questions and answers

HeHelium

0 0 00 0 0HOURS MINS SECS

6

114.5m

2,377kg

12 HOUSEHOLDS

30 MINWINDOW

BETWEEN 7AM AND 11AM

2.1km

WANAKAAIRPORT

PAYLOAD

HELIUM

Questions such as “HOW DID THE UNIVERSE, GALAXIES, STARS, AND PLANETS FORM AND EVOLVE?”and “ARE THERE EARTH-LIKE PLANETS BEYOND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM?”are being answered by NASA with the help of experiments � own on scienti� c balloons. Scienti� c research balloons gather data that is used to investigate the origins of the universe, assess the effects of cosmic rays on the atmosphere and continue the hunt for planets.

The balloon is UNMANNED and will be monitored by the Columbia Scienti� c Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.

STATE HIGHWAY 6 WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED AT LUGGATE with a detour via Hawea Flat for traf� c between Cromwell and Wanaka.

The of� cial countdown will begin around midnight on the day before the launch, and the balloon will be launched on the following morning between 7 AND 11AM, subject to calm wind conditions. If the wind is not agreeable for launch, it will be delayed at least 24 hours.

The balloon is LAUNCHED by � lling it with helium with the payload section suspended beneath it. As the balloon rises up through the atmosphere, the helium expands, � lling out the balloon until it reaches � oat altitude in TWO TO THREE HOURS.

In accordance with NASA’s stringent health and safety protocols, residents living along the � ight path within a 2.1KM RADIUS of Wanaka Airport will be asked to remain indoors until the balloon is out of range. This will affect, at most, 12 households for a 30-minute window between approximately 7am and 11am on launch day as the balloon lifts off and begins its ascent.

Helium, the same gas used to � ll party balloons, is used in NASA’s scienti� c balloons. The largest of NASA’s operational scienti� c balloons can carry suspended payloads weighing up to 3,600KG (8,000 pounds), about the weight of three small cars. They can � y up to 42KM (26 miles) high and stay there for up to two weeks or longer. The super pressure balloon � ying from Wanaka is 532,357 CUBIC METERS (18.8 million cubic feet) in volume when fully in� ated.

NASA is planning to use the NEW LAUNCH PAD currently being built at the northeast of the Wanaka Airport runway. NASA conducted a safety analysis associated with the new launch pad and only one home is impacted. NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with the resident and airport users to provide updated information.

The balloon is 114.5M (375.6 feet)in diameter and 69M (226 feet) high when fully in� ated at its � oat altitude of 33.5KM (110,000 feet). The 2,377KG balloon, when fully in� ated, is a similar size to Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.

WHY WANAKA AIRPORT?

HOW WILL THE BALLOON BE KEPT SAFE IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE?

HOW DOES THE LAUNCH PROCESS WORK?

According to NASA experts, Wanaka is the perfect location for several reasons: its latitude, calm conditions and dispersed population around the airport, particularly in the east where the balloon is likely to drift.

NASA is working closely with Airways to plan airspace logistics for the launch. Airways will coordinate with NASA to determine an optimal launch time to ensure minimal impact on normal scheduled aircraft operations, and facilitate safe passage of the balloon through controlled airspace. In the days leading up to and during the launch, NASA will provide Airways with the balloon’s predicted trajectory based on wind and weather conditions, ensuring Airways has the most up-to-date information to safely manage the airspace.

The balloon will be connected to a crane and in� ated with helium at Wanaka Airport. As it rises, the lower atmospheric pressures will cause the balloon to fully in� ate.

It will rise at approximately 1,000ft (or 300m) per minute and travel to 110,000 feet (around 33.5km). It typically takes two to three hours to reach this � oat altitude. From there, the goal is for the balloon to remain airborne for 100 days. After the mission is complete, � ight operators will assess a safe location for bringing the balloon down and then recovery operations will begin. The previous two Wanaka balloon launch attempts remained airborne for 32 days and 46 days respectively.

WANAKA AIRPORT WANAKA AIRPORT

5KM

15KM

25KM

10KM

20KM

30KM

35KM

33.5KM

300M PER MINUTE

100 DAYS

A SAFE LOCATION

Basic facts Questions and answers

After two successful launches in 2015 and 2016, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has con� rmed Wanaka, New Zealand, as one of its global sites to launch unmanned scienti� c research balloons into near space.

NASA is set to return to Wanaka in March 2017 to perform another � ight test of its super pressure balloon. In addition, the balloon will � y the University of Chicago’s Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO-SPB) payload on this mission.

EUSO-SPB is a high-energy cosmic ray particle astrophysics payload that will test a � uorescence detector and its supporting technologies under the severe operating conditions of the stratosphere. This suborbital � ight is a precursor for a mission being planned to launch the EUSO telescope and install it on the International Space Station (ISS).

• Twenty-� ve NASA staff are expected to be in Wanaka for two months to provide launch services support for the launch

• The 2017 scienti� c payload will be � own on behalf of the University of Chicago’s Extreme Universe Space Observatory team. A team of 10 scientists will be on-site working with NASA to launch and monitor the payload

• Various New Zealand aviation bodies, including Wanaka and Queenstown airports, Airways New Zealand and the Civil Aviation Authority, have been involved in helping NASA work through the logistics of launching the 2,377kg (5,241 pounds) balloon from Wanaka Airport

• A range of local agencies, from Queenstown Lakes District Council to � re brigades, have also provided planning, logistics and communications support for the project

• NASA is building a dedicated launch pad at the airport, once again showing their con� dence in Wanaka as a launch location.

WHAT IS THE BALLOON MADE OUT OF?

CAN THE PUBLIC WATCH THE LAUNCH?

HOW DOES THE LAUNCH BENEFIT THE REGION?

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

WHY IS THERE A SAFETY ZONE ACROSS PARTS OF THE AIRPORT?

NASA’s balloons are constructed of polyethylene � lm, similar to the type of � lm used in sandwich wrap, but stronger and more durable. The � lm for this balloon is only 0.0038 centimetres thick and is divided into 280 banana-peel-shaped sections, called gores, and sealed together under heat.

Immediately after lift-off the balloon will be visible for miles around so people will not need to be at the airport to see it. The best viewing points will be on the Hawea Flat side of the Clutha River, on Mt Iron or on the hill on the Hawea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Rd.

The project has generated multiple positives including signi� cant economic and tourism bene� ts.

Wanaka Airport has secured an ongoing role in the NASA balloon launch programme for up to ten years and is now part of a select global group of NASA test sites located in the United States, Sweden, Australia and Antarctica.

The project has brought signi� cant economic bene� ts to both Wanaka and New Zealand with at least US$1.25 million being injected directly into the regional and national economy in 2016. For the 2017 launch, NASA is building a dedicated launch pad at the airport, once again showing their con� dence in Wanaka as a launch location. In addition, the international publicity and goodwill generated by Wanaka’s brand association with NASA - one of the world’s most internationally recognised organisations - is invaluable in increasing Wanaka’s pro� le and putting it on the global map.

• If you live within the 2.1km safety zone, NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with you.

• If you live in the safety zone or are involved with the airport as a user or operator, NASA and Wanaka Airport staff will be in direct contact with you.

• To track the � ight visit www.csbf.nasa.gov/newzealand/wanaka.htm.

• For more information on NASA’s Scienti� c Balloon Programme, visit www.nasa.gov/scienti� cballoons.

NASA is a world-leading operator with a stringent health and safety plan, and the Columbia Scienti� c Balloon Facility has a proven track record of safe launches, having successfully overseen more than 1,700 launches. Having a safety zone is standard procedure for a NASA balloon launch and is a precautionary measure that will affect, at most, one household.

NASA balloon launch at Wanaka Airport